Method and apparatus for inventory control in medical treatment areas

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for controlling inventory in a medical facility include providing a medical device into a medical treatment area within a wireless range of a medical facility network and automatically identifying the medical device upon introduction into the medical treatment area. Patient records are automatically updated to reflect that the medical device has been assigned to a patient.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Patent Application filed Dec. 3,2008, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Automatically Integrating IntoA Medical Facility Network,” which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a method and apparatus forinventory control in a medical treatment area in an institution, such asa medical facility.

BACKGROUND

Problems have long existed in maintaining an accurate accounting oftools, parts and components during complex procedures. For example,keeping accurate track of the medical devices and medications usedduring medical procedures has been one of the major concerns ofhealthcare facilities for many years. This problem is particularlycostly in many ways for large sized hospitals comprising scores ofoperating rooms, and millions of dollars of medical device inventory.For example, errors in the dispensing, administration and prescribing ofmedications and medical treatments have resulted in an unacceptablylarge number of adverse reactions, including many deaths and permanentimpairments, leading to higher insurance costs and expensive legaljudgments.

Additionally, medical devices may be displaced during transfer from andto surgical processing departments, sterilization process and/oroperating room procedures. Even if the medical device is brought intothe medical treatment area, quite often the use of the medical devicewithin the medical treatment area for the patient is not recorded.Consequently, these medical devices go unaccounted for in the billingprocess. Further, “renegade” medical devices, such as those brought intoan operating room by a sales representative, may be implanted into apatient, with no such record of the device ever being in the medicalfacility. Worse yet, if there is a recall of the renegade medicaldevice, it is virtually impossible to determine which patient receivedthe device because of the gap in recordkeeping.

There are several computerized solutions available on the market, whichprovide a level of tracking of medical devices. Many systems usebar-code label scanning and/or magnetic stripe card technology tofacilitate tracking of medical devices through the decontaminationprocess; the inspection, assembly, and packaging process; and thesterilization cycle. For medical devices such as surgical instruments,these systems consider any particular set as a unit and provide a listof the instruments comprising the set.

While the cost of such bar-code labels and magnetic stripe cards is low,the amount of information that can be embedded or coded in either ofthese media is also relatively low, even where complex bar codes such asa 2-D bar code is employed. In addition, most bar code readers areread-only devices that can only read the information stored in the barcode and cannot store any additional information in the bar-code label.

Moreover, bar-code media require a “line-of-sight” communication pathbetween device and reader, and magnetic stripe media require a direct orclose contact communication path between device and reader at a suitable“swiping speed,” and the reliability of correct reading is about 80-90%.Repeated passes of the device in front of the bar-code reader or swipesof the card reader create delay and annoyance and/or can produce recorderrors. Such problems are not overcome with more complex bar codes, andcan actually be exacerbated where the bar code elements are smaller insize and thus more sensitive to smudging and dirt.

Absent a network connection to a computer, prior art tracking systems dolittle more than to read the information stored in the bar code ormagnetic stripe, and cannot detect errors therein, which is a particulardisadvantage in relation to medication and medical devices whereinerrors in dispensing and/or using the medication or device can haveserious, if not fatal, consequences. Furthermore, prior art trackingsystems do not account for the introduction of renegade medical devicesinto the healthcare facilities.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for apparatus and method that can assist inthe dispensing and administration of medical devices and/or medicaltreatment. Desirably, such apparatus and method should facilitatetracking a medical device at various stations and associating themedical device with a desired recipient, i.e., a patient. It wouldfurther be advantageous for the apparatus and method to have a highcorrect-reading ability (e.g., near 100%) and be in communication with acentral computer and online information system.

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to address one or moreof the above-stated needs, described above, as well as providingadditional features that will become readily apparent by reference tothe following detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

Certain disclosed embodiments are directed to a method of controllinginventory in a medical facility. The method comprises providing amedical device into a medical treatment area within a wireless range ofa medical facility network and automatically identifying the medicaldevice upon introduction into the medical treatment area. The methodfurther comprises automatically updating a patient record to reflectthat the medical device has been assigned to a patient.

Certain disclosed embodiments are directed to a system of controllinginventory in a medical facility. The system comprises a medical facilitynetwork and a medical device within a wireless range of the medicalfacility network. The medical facility network is configured toautomatically identify the medical device upon introduction into amedical treatment area and retrieve a medical device record associatedwith the medical device.

Certain disclosed embodiments are directed to another method ofcontrolling inventory in a medical facility. The method comprisesproviding a medical device into a medical treatment area within awireless range of a medical facility network and automaticallyidentifying the medical device upon introduction into the medicaltreatment area. The method further comprises automatically retrieving amedical device record associated with the medical device from themedical facility network and displaying the medical device record to auser.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments,and other features of the embodiments will become apparent after reviewof the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, DetailedDescription, and the Claims, or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects of the embodiments described herein will becomemore readily apparent by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective depiction of an exemplary medical device,according to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary operating system of themedical device of FIG. 1 and shows a network connection between themedical device, a central computer, and a storage medium, according todisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective depiction of an exemplary medical treatmentarea, such as an operating room, in which the disclosed embodiments maybe employed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of medical devices in communicationwith a medical facility network, according to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of a medical device entering a medicaltreatment area, according to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling inventoryin a medical facility, according to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of identifying a medicaldevice by a medical facility network, according to disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of assigning a medicaldevice to a patient, according to disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently disclosedembodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

Prior art tracking systems typically do not track medical devices alongtheir entire processing and use path. Additionally, prior art trackingsystems do not have reliable, essentially 100% correct readerperformance, without requiring human intervention, as is desirable forproviding complete and accurate records. Embodiments of the presentinvention address such shortcomings by providing systems andmethodologies for controlling inventory of medical devices.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, embodiments of the present invention maybe employed with or as part of medical device 10, such as a mobile orstationary dispensing station 15 that is used in an institution tocontrollably dispense medication and other items for use in treatingpatients. Such an exemplary medical device is described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 20070135965, entitled “System and Method forStoring Items and Tracking Item Usage,” incorporated by reference in itsentirety. However, the dispensing station 15 is but one example of amedical device for purposes of this disclosure. The term “medicaldevice” as used herein refers to any device capable of wirelesscommunication, such as dispensing station 15 or a properly equippedprosthetic limb or an infusion pump, etc., that is configured forwireless communication.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing station 15 comprises cabinet 12supported by wheels 14 so that it may be moved easily to medicaltreatment areas throughout a medical facility, such as into an operatingroom. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cabinet 12 holds slidingtrays or drawers 16 of varying shapes and sizes for storing a widevariety of items. The number and configuration of the drawers 16 may bemodified to meet the needs of the institution in which the dispensingstation 15 is used.

Reference numeral 30 refers to a schematically depicted a wirelesscommunication device that provides wireless communication capability tothe medical device 10. The depiction is representational only, and isnot meant to depict any actual physical configuration or location of anyparticular wireless communication device.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, drawers 16 are coupled toa control unit 18 for limiting and tracking user access to stored items.The control unit 18 comprises a slide control mechanism 19 with lockinghardware, such as solenoids, latches, etc., controlled by a processor20. The control unit 18 also includes a storage medium 40 incommunication with processor 20. In some embodiments, the processor 20is in communication with a user interface such as a terminal 22. Theterminal 22 comprises a keyboard 24 or other input device and a displayscreen or display 26. In some embodiments, display 26 is a touch screen,which allows a health care professional or user to interact with imagesdisplayed on the screen 26 to input data and commands for use by theprocessor 20 to control the operation of the cabinet 12, instead ofusing the keyboard 24.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a mouse orother pointing device (not shown) may be used in combination withdisplay 26 to interact with images displayed on the screen. A devicesuch as a scanner (not shown) for reading machine-readableidentification tags on storage spaces and/or on items to be stored maybe in electronic communication with the control unit 18 so as to providethe control unit 18 with information regarding the items to be stored inthe drawers 16. It should be understood that the present invention isdirected to medical devices 10 capable of wireless connection and notnecessarily to items that are stored within the medical device 10,unless such items are medical devices with their own wirelesscapability.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective depiction of an exemplaryoperating room 100, in which a medical device 10 may be employed isshown. It is noted that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to anoperating room 100, and may be utilized in accordance with any medicaltreatment area within a medical facility, including, for example, apatient room.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, an operating room 100includes a patient bed 110, a lighting assembly 120, a utensil platform130, a plurality of terminals 140, a plurality of displays 150, aplurality of inventory storage devices 160, a waste disposal device 170,an electronic monitoring device 180, an intravenous (IV) fluid stand 195and an infusion pump 190. Operating room 100 may additionally includeother equipment as desired, including, for example, anesthesiaequipment, defibrillators, vital signs monitors, respiratoryventilators, dialysis machines, etc.

As stated above, “medical device” 10 refers to any device capable ofwireless communication, such as dispensing station 15 or inventorystorage device 160. It may also refer to individual items, such aspumps, defibrillators, etc. The term may also refer to supplies, such asboxes of surgical instruments, prosthetic devices, etc. These medicaldevices 10 may be transported and used for a number of patients in anumber of medical treatment areas and contain items such as medicationsused during anesthesia and surgical instruments. Because many nurses andother health care professionals handle the medical devices 10, it may bedifficult to ascertain the location or track the movement of the medicaldevices 10 within the medical facility.

Consequently, equipping certain ones of the medical devices 10 with theability to expedite their deployment within an operating room 100 isdesirable. In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments, medicaldevices 10, such as dispensing station 15 or inventory storage device160, include wireless communication device 30. Without being bound byany particular theory, it is believed that equipping the medical devices10 with wireless communication device 30 will reduce the time necessaryto integrate the medical devices 10 into an operating room 100 or othermedical treatment area and assign the medical devices 10 to a patient.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, in certain embodiments thedispensing station 15 is part of a system 31 and is linked via a medicalfacility network 32 to a central computer 34 with access to acentralized storage device such as storage medium 36. As shown in FIG.4, in an exemplary embodiment, medical facility network 32 is incommunication with a storage medium 36 and a plurality of inventorystorage devices 160. The devices in communication with medical facilitynetwork 32 may also be referred to as entities or nodes. The arrangementof the network 32 and the nodes may take many different forms, and thedepicted arrangements in FIGS. 2 and 4 are exemplary only.

In certain embodiments, medical facility network 32 is configured to beable to physically connect to the medical devices 10 and wirelesslyconnect to the medical devices 10. Technologies suitable for wirelesscommunication include Bluetooth, Zigbee, radio frequency identification(RFID) and ultra-wide band (UWB), to name a few.

Connection of medical facility network 32 to the medical devices 10allows the medical devices 10 to share and exchange data with othermedical devices 10 and entities such as central computer 34 and storagemedium 36. Storage medium 36 may include, for example, one or moredatabases having patient-specific information and information regardingitems currently stored or are to be stored in the dispensing station 15or inventory storage device 160. In these embodiments, the medicalfacility network 32 provides the means for the control unit 18 toautomatically obtain patient-specific information and informationregarding stored items. In certain exemplary embodiment, medicalfacility network 32 is connected to the Internet (not shown).

Because medical facilities employ a very large number of differentmedical devices 10, it is desirable to limit the wireless range of themedical devices 10, so as to limit interference between the medicaldevices 10 and other equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the wirelessrange of the medical devices 10 is limited to approximately the medicaltreatment area. Such a limit on the wireless range may be achieved bylimiting the power level of the medical device 10 to a maximum thresholdvalue.

Alternatively, rather than limiting the wireless range of the medicaldevices 10, employing physical or electromagnetic barriers that preventthe transmitting and receiving of wireless communication signals outsideof the desired area may be used. For example, in a typical operatingroom 100, the walls may be lined with lead, thereby preventingtransmission of wireless communication signals into and out of the room.

In should be appreciated that the medical devices 10 may be secure orunsecure in their connection to medical facility network 32. However, itis desirable for the medical devices and the medical facility network tobe in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability & AccountabilityAct of 1996 (HIPAA) and other relevant standards.

In certain aspects, medical facility network 32 comprises afacility-wide network. In certain other aspects, medical facilitynetwork 32 comprises a local network. A local network may include, forexample, a network that is dedicated to a single room.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematically illustrated example of amedical device 10 entering a medical treatment area 400 is shown. Incertain embodiments, medical treatment area 400 comprises a patient room410 in a medical facility 450. The medical treatment area 400 could alsobe an operating room, an examination room, etc., as explained earlier.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of patient rooms 410 may be part ofmedical facility 450. Patient rooms 410 may be occupied by patients 420or may be vacant 440. In certain embodiments, medical device 10 andmedical treatment area 400 both have wireless communication devices 30allowing wireless interaction. In certain embodiments, the wirelesscommunication device 30 of medical treatment area 400 is connected tomedical facility network 32.

As medical device 10 enters treatment area 400, medical device 10 andmedical facility network 32 interact through wireless communicationdevices 30 to exchange data such as patient records and medical device10 information. In certain embodiments, medical facility network 32assigns medical device 10 to the specific patient 420 within medicaltreatment area 400. The exchange of this information will be furtherdescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 6-8.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flow diagram illustrating a method ofcontrolling inventory in a medical facility, according to certaindisclosed embodiments is shown. Initially, a medical device 10 isprovided into a medical treatment area 400 at step 500. Medical device10 may be provided in any manner, such as by manually rolling medicaldevice 10 into medical treatment area 400 if medical device 10 includeswheels, such as dispensing station 15. In other embodiments, medicaldevice 10 may be carried into medical treatment area 400. Such istypically the case for “renegade” medical devices that a salesrepresentative may bring in to the medical treatment area 400. Also,smaller medical devices 10, such as pumps, etc., can be carried into themedical treatment area 400.

Upon introduction of medical device 10 into medical treatment area 400,medical facility network 32 automatically detects and identifies themedical device 10 at step 510. Such detection and identification isachieved by either the medical device 10 initiating transmission of asignal to inform medical facility network 32 that the medical device 10is within wireless range or by medical facility network 32 periodicallytransmitting signals to determine which medical devices 10 are withinwireless range. In response, the medical device 10 replies to themedical facility network 32 with a message.

Referring briefly to FIG. 7, identification step 510 is further defined.At step 600, after communication is established the medical facilitynetwork 32 requests identity information from medical device 10. Suchrequest may be accomplished by medical facility network 32 transmittinga request signal to the medical device 10.

In response to the information request, medical device 10 transmits asignal to medical facility network 32 comprising the requested deviceidentity information. In certain embodiments, the identity informationcomprises an electronic serial number associated with the medical device10. In certain embodiments, other device identifiers may be used.

Once medical facility network 32 receives medical device 10 identityinformation, a verification process may be performed to verify theidentity of the medical device 10, in step 610. Verification of theidentity information may be achieved, for example, by the medicalfacility network 32 inquiring as to whether a medical device recordexists for the medical device 10. For example, medical devices 10already inventoried by the medical facility 450 have a medical devicerecord associated with them.

For medical devices 10 not already inventoried by medical facility 450such as “renegade” devices, a medical device record does not exist. Forthese non-inventoried medical devices 10, medical facility network 32may create a medical device record by retrieving medical deviceinformation such as product information from the Internet or localstorage. These new medical device records may then be saved in remotestorage medium 36 or in medical device 10 itself, such as in storagemedium 40 of dispensing station 15.

An additional verification may be performed by a health careprofessional or user operating the medical devices 10 and comparing themedical devices 10 to the medical device records relating to thepatient. This step may be routinely performed as an additional or finalcheck to ensure that the medical device 10 is correct for thatparticular patient.

For example, for medical devices 10 containing surgical equipment, if aparticular instrument or set of instruments was needed but not presentas part of medical device 10, the health care professional or user couldreject the medical device 10 and perform a search for the correctmedical device 10. During times such as emergency surgeries, it isimperative that the correct medical device 10 be found quickly andassigned to the patient. Additionally, for medical devices 10 containingmedications, it is imperative that a medical device 10 containing amedication with the correct dosage be utilized. For example, a medicaldevice 10 containing medications for a children's wing in the hospitalmay contain similar medications with much lower concentrations than amedical device 10 in the main part of the hospital. An error inassigning a child an adult concentration or dosage could prove fatal.Thus, this additional verification step is desirable considering theadverse consequences failing to perform it can have.

Referring back to FIG. 6, after medical device 10 is identified in step510, the medical device 10 is assigned to a patient in step 520. Theassignment of medical device 10 to a patient is an important step incontrolling inventory and providing proper and complete billing. Oncemedical device 10 has been assigned to a patient, that patient may bebilled for the use of medical device 10, or for those medications, etc.,removed from the medical device 10. Furthermore, assignment of medicaldevice 10 to a patient allows medical facility personnel and planners todetermine which medical devices 10 are more frequently used for certainsurgical procedures and to better plan accordingly. Additionally, if amedical device 10 or an item contained within medical device 10 isrecalled for safety reasons, the patient that had been associated withthat medical device 10 may be easily notified of the recall. Lastly,assignment of medical devices 10 to patients allows medical facilitypersonnel to determine how many “renegade” medical devices are usedwithin its medical facility.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a flow diagram illustrating a method ofassigning a medical device 10 to a patient according to certaindisclosed embodiments is shown. At step 700, medical facility network 32retrieves the medical device record from the storage medium 40 of themedical device 10. The medical device record is then displayed for ahealth care professional or user to view at step 710. The medical devicerecord may be displayed on display 26 of dispensing station 15 or on adisplay separate from the medical device 10 such as display 150.

As described above in the discussion of FIG. 6, a health careprofessional or user may perform verification of medical device 10 byinspecting the medical device 10 and comparing the medical device 10 toits medical device record. The displaying of the medical device recordallows a health care professional or user to ascertain that the correctmedical device 10 will be assigned to the patient.

After the health care professional or user is satisfied that the correctmedical device 10 is present, in some embodiments, the medical devicerecord associated with medical device 10 is copied into the patientrecord in central storage medium 36 at step 720. Copying the medicaldevice record into the patient record provides pertinent informationabout the medical device 10 such as product information, i.e., make,model, batch, etc. so that if that information is needed later, it isreadily available. In some embodiments, rather than the entire medicaldevice record, a portion of the medical device record is copied into thepatient record. Still, in other embodiments, the electronic serialnumber associated with the medical device 10 or other identifiers arecopied into the patient record. These last two options provide someinformation about medical device 10, but require that a person needingmore complete information do a product search via the internet or bycontacting the manufacturer of medical device 10.

When the caregiver is finished using medical device 10, such as is thecase when a patient's surgery is complete and the medical device 10contains surgical equipment, medical device 10 may be discharged fromthe patient. The discharge may be accomplished by reassigning themedical device 10 from the patient so that further use of the medicaldevice 10 will not be charged to the patient 420. The use of the medicaldevice 10 will remain in the patient record to be used for billing andother purposes. In some embodiments, after the medical device 10 hasbeen assigned to the patient, a billing record is updated to reflectthat the patient 420 has used the medical device 10.

In certain embodiments, the medical device discharge is accomplished bynoting in the patient record that medical device 10 is no longerassigned to the patient. The change in status may be signified bychanging the color of the font of a display medical device record in thepatient record from a first color to a second color, e.g., red font toblack font, or black font to gray font. Alternatively, the medicaldevice record may have an asterisk associated with it when it isassigned to a patient, and the asterisk may be removed when the medicaldevice is discharged from the patient. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that there are a number of ways to reflect that the medicaldevice 10 has been discharged from a patient. As such, these methods ofreflecting discharge of the device from the patient are within the scopeof the present invention.

While methods of discharging the medical device 10 from patient havebeen described thus far, the timing of such discharge has not beendiscussed. As should be appreciated, because medical device 10 andmedical treatment area 400 are configured to communicate wirelessly,once these components are no longer within wireless range of each other,medical device 10 is automatically discharged from the patient. Forexample, once medical device 10 is removed from medical treatment area400, such as by wheeling medical device 10 out of patient room 410 andinto a hallway of the medical facility 450, the patient record isupdated to reflect that medical device 10 has been discharged from thepatient. Alternatively, should the wireless connectivity with medicaltreatment area 400 cease to exist the medical device 10 may similarly bedischarged from the patient.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a method and system for controllinginventory of medical devices in a medical facility. As a result ofcontrolling medical devices, patients are provided with the correctmedical devices and are accurately billed for the medical devices thatthey use.

Methods and apparatus of the present invention are intended to be usedin conjunction with supply systems such as dispensing station 15, andfor medical devices 10 that are used directly with patients, such aspumps, monitors, instruments, etc. The methods and apparatus of thepresent invention provide an additional safeguard for controllinginventory of medical devices. Additionally, methods and apparatus of thepresent invention provide a way to detect and track “renegade” medicaldevices introduced by sales representatives and used in medicalprocedures at an unknown rate, as long as such devices include wirelesscommunication capability 30.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

1. A method of controlling inventory in a medical facility, comprising:providing a medical device into a medical treatment area within awireless range of a medical facility network; automatically identifyingthe medical device upon introduction into the medical treatment area;and automatically updating a patient record to reflect that the medicaldevice has been assigned to a patient.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: retrieving a medical device record associated with themedical device from the medical facility network.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the medical device record comprises the medical deviceproduct information.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein upon removal ofthe medical device from the medical treatment area, the patient recordis updated to reflect that the medical device has been discharged fromthe patient.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: displayingthe medical device record for a user to view.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein upon assigning the medical device to the patient, a billingrecord is updated to reflect that the patient has used the medicaldevice.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless range is limitedto approximately the medical treatment area.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the medical treatment area comprises a patient room or surgicalroom.
 9. A system of controlling inventory in a medical facility,comprising: a medical facility network; a medical device within awireless range of the medical facility network; wherein the medicalfacility network is configured to automatically identify the medicaldevice upon introduction into a medical treatment area and retrieve amedical device record associated with the medical device.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the medical device is assigned to a patient.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein a patient record is updated to reflect thatthe medical device has been assigned to the patient.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein upon removal of the medical device from the medicaltreatment area, the patient record is updated to reflect that themedical device has been discharged from the patient.
 13. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the medical device record comprises the medical deviceproduct information.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the medicaltreatment area comprises a patient room or surgical room.
 15. The systemof claim 9, wherein the medical facility network comprises a localnetwork or facility-wide network.
 16. The system of claim 9, furthercomprising: a terminal interfacing with the medical facility network;and a display in communication with the terminal; wherein the medicalfacility network is user accessible through the terminal.
 17. The systemof claim 16, wherein upon assigning the medical device to the patient, abilling record is updated to reflect that the patient has used themedical device.
 18. A method of controlling inventory in a medicalfacility, comprising: providing a medical device into a medicaltreatment area within a wireless range of a medical facility network;automatically identifying the medical device upon introduction into themedical treatment area; automatically retrieving a medical device recordassociated with the medical device from the medical facility network;and displaying the medical device record.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising: automatically updating a patient record to reflectthat the medical device has been assigned to a patient.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein upon removal of the medical device from the medicaltreatment area, the patient record is updated to reflect that themedical device has been discharged from the patient.